Bonds again pleads not guilty

Latest News

Sports Network

Mar 1, 2011

, Last Updated: 10:09 PM ET

SAN JOSE - Barry Bonds was back in court Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to lying to a federal grand jury about using steroids.

Last month, federal prosecutors slashed six of the 11 felony charges against Bonds in the case, causing him to reaffirm his plea in a brief hearing in federal court in San Francisco, according to the San Jose Mercury News.

Bonds now faces four charges of lying under oath and one count of obstructing justice. He faces the charges as a result of his 2003 grand jury testimony in the BALCO case, and the trial is slated to commence March 21.

Greg Anderson, Bonds' former trainer, stated once again Tuesday he will not testify against the former slugger, per the report.

Bonds' original trial date of February 2009 was delayed when prosecutors appealed a ruling by a U.S. District Judge to exclude key evidence -- specifically, alleged positive tests from Bonds and evidence of those tests. Prosecutors lost that appeal, but decided to go ahead with the trial.